Ralphmyster
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 415
- Name
- Graham
- Edit My Images
- No
hi well looking at buying a studio lighting kit how long would it be before i wanted a better one. So new one or good second hand one if i need to £400
portflash / interfit or buy better
- Thread starter Ralphmyster
- Start date
markw08
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 1,099
- Name
- Mark
- Edit My Images
- Yes
For £400 you can get a few decent kits..
Try Lastolite, lastolite-lumen8-sv-lighting-kit
Something about 400-500w is ideal, the interfit kit is only 150w....
Try Lastolite, lastolite-lumen8-sv-lighting-kit
Something about 400-500w is ideal, the interfit kit is only 150w....
I got a set of these,so did my mate when he seen mine.Worth considering.Same as another well known brand with different stickers.more then happy with them at this price.Any more info needed just pm me.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pro-Studio-Li...graphy_StudioEquipment_RL?hash=item2a02b630ab
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pro-Studio-Li...graphy_StudioEquipment_RL?hash=item2a02b630ab
EdBray
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 7,179
- Name
- Edward Bray
- Edit My Images
- Yes
What fitting are the accessories for the heads? If not a mainstream fitting such as Bowens S or Elinchrom then accessories may be difficult to obtain and possibly expensive.
Why would you want two softboxes and an umbrella with a three head kit (would give pretty boring lighting), what about modifiers such as reflectors, honeycombs etc?
Garry Edwards
Moderator
- Messages
- 13,475
- Name
- Garry Edwards
- Edit My Images
- No
Confucius say: Never buy lights with lots of blurb but no real info
never buy from new ebay seller
never buy from any seller who doesn't know the difference between watts and watt seconds
and never pay that much when much better is available for much less
These are bowen S fitting and its quite easy to get the other kit when you decide what you need .Most basic kit does not come with reflectors etc
have to disagree with a few of your points
he may be a new Ebasy seller(Mar 09),but every-one has to start some-where and he has 100% positive feedback
He may not know the tech jargon,but after checking out his gear, I got all the info I needed
Also after comparing what else is available I think i got good value for money
This is just my opinion ofcourse
EdBray
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 7,179
- Name
- Edward Bray
- Edit My Images
- Yes
I quite agree that most basic outfits don't come with reflectors but then most three head outfits don't come with two softboxes and a brolly, (perfect modifiers to kill any creativity before you start).
The fact that these take S fit modifiers would go in their favour.
EdBray
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 7,179
- Name
- Edward Bray
- Edit My Images
- Yes
You think you got a good deal? In reading the information, these flash units are not very good, certainly not 500w/s with a guide number of 68 they are little more powerful than a camera mounted flashgun. This is why it's important to have access to the proper tech jargon to enable apples to be compared to apples rather than pears!
The Lencarta 200w/s Smartflash have a guide number of 100 at ISO100 and are therefore 33% more powerful than the heads in the outfit you purchased.
jonesy_ni
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 366
- Edit My Images
- Yes
I am the mate that got a set of these too
The guy is hardly a new seller, and the info he gives seems the same info as everyone else that sells lights?
The ebay price is buy now, or best offer. We did not pay the full price and got a good discount.
I would like to see this 3 head S type fitting kit, with the softboxes, brolly, wireless trigger, case, stands, for the much less.
Yes plenty of modifiers available since they are the S type fitting.
I think they are great value, well made lights and the guy was good too deal with, replied to emails quickly, sent items out quickly with no messing about.
I would recommend them, but what do i know?
To the OP, hope you get sorted out, and are as happy as I am with my purchase
Having tried them,they are alot more powerful then a flashgun.i have two sb 600 and the heads set at minium provide alot more then the flashguns do at maximum.the M series pro 900 from Elemental only have a guide number of 58 and they won the 5 stars from Practical photography and their G series only 50.So does that mean these are even worse then mine??
Garry Edwards
Moderator
- Messages
- 13,475
- Name
- Garry Edwards
- Edit My Images
- No
I am the mate that got a set of these too
The guy is hardly a new seller, and the info he gives seems the same info as everyone else that sells lights?
The ebay price is buy now, or best offer. We did not pay the full price and got a good discount./QUOTE]
And what are you going to do if you need tech support - how much does this seller know?
We know that he doesn't know anything about studio lighting because he doesn't tell us anything about it (in real terms) i.e. he quotes the colour temperature but doesn't say how much it varies by at different settings (although there could be a very good reason for not saying that) accessory fit, No. of capacitors. Where does it tell you the power (or otherwise) of the modelling lamps? Does it have a cooling fan? - all the important stuff that helps you to decide whether it's right for you - and talks about watts, which is nothing more than an energy consumption figure and totally meaningless when talking about flash. There are a lot of these cheap imports around, being sold under various names. I'm cautious because the same products keep coming up time and time again under different names and then the names and the sellers disappear.
But if you've bought it and are happy, then good luck to you
I am the mate that got a set of these too
The guy is hardly a new seller, and the info he gives seems the same info as everyone else that sells lights?
The ebay price is buy now, or best offer. We did not pay the full price and got a good discount./QUOTE]
And what are you going to do if you need tech support - how much does this seller know?
We know that he doesn't know anything about studio lighting because he doesn't tell us anything about it (in real terms) i.e. he quotes the colour temperature but doesn't say how much it varies by at different settings (although there could be a very good reason for not saying that) accessory fit, No. of capacitors. Where does it tell you the power (or otherwise) of the modelling lamps? Does it have a cooling fan? - all the important stuff that helps you to decide whether it's right for you - and talks about watts, which is nothing more than an energy consumption figure and totally meaningless when talking about flash. There are a lot of these cheap imports around, being sold under various names. I'm cautious because the same products keep coming up time and time again under different names and then the names and the sellers disappear.
But if you've bought it and are happy, then good luck to you
It tells you the power of the modelling lights in the ad 50watt.They are fan cooled also. A few different questions I asked him before deciding to buy them and he managed to answer any queries. As said above I am really pleased with the build quality and everything else.
jonesy_ni
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 366
- Edit My Images
- Yes
All the jargon was on the guys advert? You have read it well
Name snobbery?
I have been looking for a long time for studio lights, and took a lot of advice from people including yourself, which I thank you for taking the time.
The saving on these lights was great, compared to what else is out there. If I need to change a bulb I am sure I will figure it out with my instructions. Anything more than that obviously it would need to go back.
Capacitors??? Come on, how many studio light sellers have that on the spec sheet. Most of the things you have just asked are on the listing?
Nearly all studio lighting sellers, or retailers use the meaningless watts in the title of the product.
The OP is looking for a set of lights with a budget, he may be like some and want a "name", or he might just want some more for his £££ to play with.
You know a lot about lights, I am sure you can come back with some stuff that I dont know or even need to know about lights, or you could recommend a set of lights to the OP instead of slagging off other lights because of the brand/price
Garry Edwards
Moderator
- Messages
- 13,475
- Name
- Garry Edwards
- Edit My Images
- No
I'm not slagging them off because of the brand. They are not a brand.
I'm not slagging them off because of the price, although I think the price is high for what they are.
In fact, I'm not slagging them off at all, I'm just suggesting that it might be risky to buy them, and risky to buy from a seller who very obviously knows nothing about the stuff he's selling. I get phone calls every day from people on the Lencarta phone line who have bought lights from Ebay and similar sellers and who need technical support but can't get it, or who do get answers but the answers are totally wrong. Usually the questions are about lighting and I can help, and sometimes they are about branded products that I know about but when they are specific to a generic flash head from an unknown manufacturer then I can't help, and all too often nor can anyone else except the unknown manufacturer.
Yes, there are brands that I can recommend, and at various times I have recommended Bowens, Bron, Elinchrom, Lencarta, Profoto and Speedtron (in alphabetical order) on this but whenever I do someone always seems to question my motives or my personal integrity, and one sad character even sends PM's to people warning them about me - so why bother?
But as I said before, as long as you're happy with your purchase...
HoppyUK
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 23,200
- Name
- Richard
- Edit My Images
- No
Because Garry, you are one of the best posters anywhere on TP, and especially in this forum.
I know I'm not the only one that values your knowldge and insight, and your generous contributions.
So you work for Lencarta. Well so what? You don't always recommend them, and when you do, you say why. That's fine by me. Maybe it would help the 'sad character' if you put something about your Lencarta role into your sig, just for the record, but as I say if you qualify your recommendations in the way that you do I can't see what the problem is.
In fact, just the reverse - because of your professional association you probably get to know a useful bit more than most folks.
Keep it up bud. You seem to give as good as you get
Garry Edwards
Moderator
- Messages
- 13,475
- Name
- Garry Edwards
- Edit My Images
- No
Many thanks for that.Because Garry, you are one of the best posters anywhere on TP, and especially in this forum.
I know I'm not the only one that values your knowldge and insight, and your generous contributions.
So you work for Lencarta. Well so what? You don't always recommend them, and when you do, you say why. That's fine by me. Maybe it would help the 'sad character' if you put something about your Lencarta role into your sig, just for the record, but as I say if you qualify your recommendations in the way that you do I can't see what the problem is.
In fact, just the reverse - because of your professional association you probably get to know a useful bit more than most folks.
Keep it up bud. You seem to give as good as you get
The gentleman who warns people off me seems to believe that I am Lencarta and, taking his strange thinking a bit further, he may think that if I'm not honest enough to say that I own Lencarta then presumably both Lencarta and myself must be baddies... Suggestions that he checks who the true owners are on the Companies House website seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
Sadly, other people seem to agree with him too, and there's nothing I can do about people who want to think the worst of people and who ignore the facts.
But, as I explained in another post, TP has now agreed to Lencarta having their own advertiser account, this should be ready to use soon.
I do state my connection to Lencarta in reply to any question to a new member who may not know about that connection. That won't be necessary in posts under the Lencarta name.
jonesy_ni
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 366
- Edit My Images
- Yes
This is getting way off topic now.
I thanked you for your advice in previous post for my question recently.
My problem is, some of the things you have stated should be on the link in question are never on other brands sites. There is no fault with the lights and what makes you think there will be?
Why would people buy lights from ebay, then phone lencarta for support?
This is the bit i had to question,
"Confucius say: Never buy lights with lots of Blurb but no real info
never buy from new ebay seller
never buy from any seller who doesn't know the difference between watts and watt seconds
and never pay that much when much better is available for much less"
Knowing nothing about the lights, the seller or the actual price i paid you were able to comment and say not to buy them. If you actually bought from this seller, and used the lights you would then maybe have reason to say the above. You didnt recommend a set of lights, just picked on the ones that someone else posted.
Lencarta had some bad posts lately on the site, if someone came along and reposted it everytime you mentioned them you wouldnt be best pleased? I wouldnt, as i dont know lencarta to be able to post personal experiences.
I think you should advise the OP of a set of lights you recommend
(Also for clarification, i am not the Garry/Lencarta hater who PMs)
I thanked you for your advice in previous post for my question recently.
My problem is, some of the things you have stated should be on the link in question are never on other brands sites. There is no fault with the lights and what makes you think there will be?
Why would people buy lights from ebay, then phone lencarta for support?
This is the bit i had to question,
"Confucius say: Never buy lights with lots of Blurb but no real info
never buy from new ebay seller
never buy from any seller who doesn't know the difference between watts and watt seconds
and never pay that much when much better is available for much less"
Knowing nothing about the lights, the seller or the actual price i paid you were able to comment and say not to buy them. If you actually bought from this seller, and used the lights you would then maybe have reason to say the above. You didnt recommend a set of lights, just picked on the ones that someone else posted.
Lencarta had some bad posts lately on the site, if someone came along and reposted it everytime you mentioned them you wouldnt be best pleased? I wouldnt, as i dont know lencarta to be able to post personal experiences.
I think you should advise the OP of a set of lights you recommend
(Also for clarification, i am not the Garry/Lencarta hater who PMs)
Garry Edwards
Moderator
- Messages
- 13,475
- Name
- Garry Edwards
- Edit My Images
- No
OK then, let's get back to the topic.
Portaflash used to be the cheapest/poorest lights available, although others are now competing for that position. But IMO, for people on a very tight budget, they can be a very good choice if bought second hand and cheaply. If nothing else, they allow people to try out studio lighting without spending too much. A bit like the 'first car' that most new drivers buy - cheap to buy, cheap to insure, good to gain experience on but replaced with something better when they can.
Interfit - lots of different models sold under this name, some are much better than others.
Elinchrom - very good light quality throughout the range, their professional products (heavy duty studio flash generators) have excellent build quality too, their consumer range is nowhere near as well built. Accessories (and it's the accessories which control and shape the light, so they are very important) are very expensive.
Bowens - excellent in every way, but IMO they are overpriced.
Lencarta - in my experience very similar to Bowens but at a much more reasonable price (unlike other makes above, not sold through retailers, which makes a very big difference to the price)
Then of course there are Profoto and Bron, which are in a diffferent class to all others and beyond the price range of most people.
Choosing studio lighting should be about much more than power (whatever that means) and much more than price. Please see this article This article also addresses power - it's a bit daft for people to say that people buying lights need more or less power - it's horses for courses and power is not even very important in most situations
As for bad posts about Lencarta, there have been 2 to my knowledge, only the first of which had any justification whatever. Fact of life - the more customers there are, the more likely there are to be dissatisfied customers, and Lencarta has a LOT of customers.
Portaflash used to be the cheapest/poorest lights available, although others are now competing for that position. But IMO, for people on a very tight budget, they can be a very good choice if bought second hand and cheaply. If nothing else, they allow people to try out studio lighting without spending too much. A bit like the 'first car' that most new drivers buy - cheap to buy, cheap to insure, good to gain experience on but replaced with something better when they can.
Interfit - lots of different models sold under this name, some are much better than others.
Elinchrom - very good light quality throughout the range, their professional products (heavy duty studio flash generators) have excellent build quality too, their consumer range is nowhere near as well built. Accessories (and it's the accessories which control and shape the light, so they are very important) are very expensive.
Bowens - excellent in every way, but IMO they are overpriced.
Lencarta - in my experience very similar to Bowens but at a much more reasonable price (unlike other makes above, not sold through retailers, which makes a very big difference to the price)
Then of course there are Profoto and Bron, which are in a diffferent class to all others and beyond the price range of most people.
Choosing studio lighting should be about much more than power (whatever that means) and much more than price. Please see this article This article also addresses power - it's a bit daft for people to say that people buying lights need more or less power - it's horses for courses and power is not even very important in most situations
As for bad posts about Lencarta, there have been 2 to my knowledge, only the first of which had any justification whatever. Fact of life - the more customers there are, the more likely there are to be dissatisfied customers, and Lencarta has a LOT of customers.
Daryl
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 5,732
- Name
- Daryl
- Edit My Images
- No
hi Garry, I, as you may have guessed have always been a Bowens fan. But I would be interested in Lencarta if you have any info. We are taking on 2 new togs through next year and will need to them out with 6x 500 heads.
Let me know some info...
Let me know some info...
Lencarta
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 91
- Name
- Harry
- Edit My Images
- Yes
Daryl,
It might be better to talk on the phone. 0845 618 2889